Happiness Just Bursting

We named our son after this wonderful wonderful man, Uncle Raymond Ornellas from my home on Kauai.  Last week Sunday, before Conference, I received a phone call and it was Aunty Val.  She said they were just leaving Twin Falls and wanted to stop by and see us.  I was so excited.  They showed up with all their happiness just bursting and I was so unbelievably grateful that we were able to introduce our children to them.  Aunty Val taught me 8th grade History and also seminary and has been in my life since we moved to Kauai in 1997.  Uncle Raymond, the same.  He was in the Bishopric while I was growing up and feels like my second father.  They are kind and wise and supportive.  After a wonderful two days with them; we had Sunday dinner, went on a long walk to Utah State and the Logan Temple the next day and went to Mo' Bettah Steaks for lunch, Scotty commented that these are the type of people that make you want to be better.  They left and both Scott and I wanted to be kinder, more giving, and more open to life.  They are the kind of people that change your life just by knowing them.   We feel honored to know them and have them in our life.
   

All last week, myself, Emily and Ray were sick.  We had sore throats, coughs and runny noses.  Luckily, Ray had a tiny cough and a little runny nose, but not much worse.  Emily, on the other hand, gave us a little scare.  She woke up about the 4th day of being sick and was intensely playing with her Easter Eggs and Legos when I noticed she was wheezing pretty bad.  I watched her pretty close and then a little before noon she wanted to watch a show on our bed.  She fell asleep, which was very abnormal for her.  When she woke up she was still having a hard time breathing and seemed to be out of it and getting worse.  We decided to take her to the doctor to make sure it wasn't something serious.  Turns out she was having a small asthma attack and the effort of breathing had made her extremely tired.  The doctor gave her a treatment while we were in his office and then sent us home with some steroids and albuterol in case she had another.  Grateful it wasn't more serious!

What can I say about conference?  I think having kids makes conference a whole different experience then it used to be fore me.  Maybe being married, having a stressful job; life as it is puts conference in a new light for me.  Before I was married and living on Kauai I looked forward to conference with so much excitement.  That was before you could watch it or listen to it almost anywhere.  We had to make a special trip down to the church to watch the broadcast of each session.  It was important and felt like a large drink of icy cold water after a long, hot hike.  Now, conference is still that icy cold drink, but with....lots of tiny little floaties put there by my wonderful child!  I can't even really tell you what the Prophet spoke about or anyone else for that matter.  My focus was on a hundred different things.  Nursing the baby, bouncing the baby, changing the baby, keeping Emily busy, getting her juice, getting her snacks, listening to her whine, telling her no, driving to Layton, getting settled at Lana's, figuring out the TV at Lana's, getting toys out for Emily at Lana's, driving back to Logan and so on.  I almost would rather wait until the written talks get put up on the Internet and then in the dead of the night when I can't sleep I'll read them and ponder them and enjoy my icy drink of water in peace.  Life changes so quickly.